Zynga hopes to whet appetites for social games with “ChefVille”

At its Zynga Unleashed event Tuesday morning, the social game maker said it plans to add “ChefVille” to the genre of games that includes “CityVille,” “FarmVille” and “CastleVille.”

But instead of growing crops or constructing apartments, “ChefVille” players and their friends will try to create their own restaurants and dream kitchens.

“It’s a topic we think everyone in the world cares about, which is food,” Zynga studio General Manager Jonathan Knight said during a preview of the game.

And the game moves from online to the dinner table because it includes actual recipes that can be cooked. The 50 recipes that will be available at launch come from Zynga’s own in-house chefs.

“We’re connecting the real world and the game world in a way that’s truly unique,” he said.

Players can create their own type of restaurants, such as an old 1950s-style diner, a Tuscan eatery or a sushi bar. Advancing in the game unlocks new equipment and recipes.

To get ingredients, players need to trade and share, like borrowing a cup of sugar from your neighbors in real life, Knight said. The virtual ingredients, such as mushrooms or tomatoes, grow during game play, but as with other games, can be purchased for real cash.

And players can visit their friend’s virtual restaurants, and be entertained by musicians as part of a social “VIP service” element in the game.

Zynga had no announcements about possible marketing tie-ins, such as famous chefs or restaurants promoting themselves within the game. But Knight said the company is actively exploring those possibilities.

Another addition to the Ville series is “The Ville,” which is like Electronic Arts’ “Sim Social.” Zynga will launch it tomorrow, and this accelerates the rivalry between the two game makers.

The company also announced a new Zynga With Friends network, including a Multiplayer feature that lets friends and strangers connect to play a game online at the same time. Playing on the popularity of the With Friends franchise, the network will work for players whether they are on the Web or on mobile devices.

“Zynga With Friends will be your social lobby where ever you are, whether on the Web or on mobile,” said General Manager Manuel Bronstein.

And the company is working on a new casino game called “Zynga Elite Slots,” which will have group payouts.

Zynga announced several new games, but other than “Matching With Friends,” which launches today, those games are still in development.

And that includes “FarmVille 2,” which is coming soon. CEO Mark Pincus showed a trailer, and it looks like this title is some sort of high-def version of the original.